PhD program Sustainable Energy Technology

Program structure

After graduating from a master's program you can opt for a PhD program whereby you will be working for the university and have an important position: to uphold the reputation and continuity of the research of the university. A PhD program lasts for four years and the TU/e offers you an attractive research environment. Many of the university’s researchers are among their field’s elite and they can be inspirational supervisors. If you have a healthy dose of curiosity and are motivated to dig deep in your research field, then a PhD might be just the thing for you.

Scientific training

The daily supervisors play the most important role in the scientific training of PhD students: they guide their study of scientific literature, help them in writing papers and preparing presentations, and show by collaboration and coaching how to do research. All research groups have research seminars for the staff and PhD students, which contribute to the scientific education. In addition to the local training, the students follow the educational program of the research school they participate in. This program typically consists of several advanced (post-master) courses, and workshops on specific research themes. These courses and workshops are often in areas that are somewhat, but not too closely, related to the student’s research area. Finally, students attend international conferences and summer schools in their own area of research, allowing them to set up a network within their research community.

Personal development

The TU/e offers ample opportunities for personal development with a series of courses that are part of the TU/e PROOF program (PROviding Opportunities For PhD students). These courses make an excellent addition to the scientific education. Examples of courses are Planning and communication, Cultural awareness, Scientific integrity, and Career orientation. The PROOF program also contains courses of a more scientific nature, such as Presenting and Writing articles and abstracts. PhD students contribute to the bachelor’s or master’s program of the department, by acting as a teaching assistant. This way they develop teaching skills, which is important if they want to pursue an academic career.

The course program runs in parallel with the research project. You will concentrate on fascinating subjects, delving into one particular subject under the supervision of a professor, among others. Your research will boost the scientific knowledge of that subject. The whole scientific world will profit from this too, of course. You will set out your findings in a thesis that you will defend before a committee in a public PhD assessment, after which you will gain your doctorate title (Dr.).